Taking a trip to the shops, this is the mother of the ­teenage gunman who murdered young football fan Rhys Jones.

Janette Mercer, 54, was sent to prison for ­three years in 2009 for lying to the police to protect her son, but is now out and about enjoying her freedom.

She backed up Sean Mercer when he denied killing 11-year-old Rhys, the innocent victim of a gangland “turf war” shooting that shocked the nation in 2007. She is one of seven people linked to the murder who have now been released.

While she was behind bars she was evicted from her family home by the landlord and she now lives in a terraced house just four miles from Croxteth, where Rhys was caught in crossfire and shot in the back while walking home from football training.

One local said: “It must be very ­difficult and hurtful for Rhys’ parents hearing about so many people who were involved in their son’s death who are now free to walk the streets of Liverpool.

“It has only been five years since he was killed and most of those who played some part are out and enjoying their lives again.”

Sean Mercer’s trial in 2008 heard that he fired the shot which killed Everton fan Rhys before fleeing on his mountain bike with other members of the gang who helped to protect him.

Victim: Rhys Jones was killed as he walked home (Photo: PA)

Mercer, now 21, was jailed for life and associate James Yates, 23, who provided the gun and helped Mercer to cover his tracks, was sentenced to seven years, later increased to 12.

But they are the only members of the gang still behind bars. In October last year Gary Kays and Melvin Coy, both 29, who also assisted the killer, were released.

In May last year Nathan Quinn, 21, who disposed of the ­murder weapon and clothes worn by ­Mercer, and Dean Kelly, 20, another member of the gang, were also freed.

Janette Mercer, reported to have worked as a £50-a-time prostitute while her son was on trial, was due to face a jury in February 2009 ­accused of perverting the course of justice.

She changed her plea on the first day to guilty. When she was sentenced, the court heard she told police her son did not own the silver bike used to flee the shooting which was caught on CCTV.

Killer: Mercer, 21, shot Rhys then fled on bike

But officers discovered the same bike was delivered to her home five months earlier. The judge said she had told a pack of lies to protect her killer son.

At the same hearing the parents of James Yates were also jailed after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Rhys’ parents said at the time: “In our eyes Mrs Mercer and Mr and Mrs Yates have always been as guilty as their sons. They knew of the terrible crimes their children had committed.

“To cover up Rhys’ murder and to protect a murderer and his ­accomplices and prolong our agony is ­unforgivable.

“As parents themselves they should have understood our pain but they chose to ignore it. For us no prison sentence for these people would be long enough.”